Quotes to Help Grow Your Small Business.

We often turn to quotes from great thinkers in order to better our lives and our spirits. Why can’t you do the same to grow your small business? When we look back at the words of well-known leaders within the business world, we give ourselves the chance to build upon their collective knowledge. After all, the advice of giants like Steve Jobs and Henry Ford is timeless. It does any small business owner well to learn from what they have to say.

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” —Steve Jobs

This Jobs quote demonstrates that if you hope to grow your small business, it’s important to create a solid team between yourself and the surrounding community. How does one do this? Here are a few simple ways: Hire within the local area in order to boost the local economy. Get constant feedback from your consumers on your goods and/or services. Partner with local nonprofits to boost your sales and their causes. This way, you aren’t the only one working towards the growth of your business. If your community forms a tight-knit team behind you, all of them will be rooting for you, and they will all aid you as you move towards success.

“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”—Henry Ford

As a small business, your customers will turn to you for certain comforts that larger companies simply do not have because of their size. Oftentimes, these comforts center around a certain degree of personalization—your customers want to know that they are not just customers, but community members. By paying attention to the unique qualities of your surrounding community, you can ensure that your small business becomes important to your customers beyond a simple transaction. Even something as simple as remembering a regular’s name or sending them a birthday card can ensure their loyalty and give you a glowing reputation.

“If people like you, they’ll listen to you, but if they trust you, they’ll do business with you.”—Zig Ziglar

Trust between your business and your community is imperative. Larger companies are often riddled with scandal and shadowed in corruption, which is often why customers choose to shop locally. Every customer is on the lookout for businesses who cut corners, so strive not to be one of them. There is no way around this: stay transparent, give your customers your best effort, and communicate with them effectively. In return, they will give you their business. It may seem obvious, but in your worst moments, hold on to that. It will pay off.

We’d love to hear how you are putting the wisdom of others into practice to grow your small business.

Benefits of Cause Marketing in Your Community.

When a local business partners with a charity it can be a wonderful way to help both entities gain positive exposure and funding. This type of collaboration between entities is known in the marketing industry as “cause marketing.” As you will see, there are HUGE benefits of cause marketing in your community.

If you aren’t sure what this type of partnership can look like, there are many successful, large-scale examples right under your nose, like Red Nose Day, organized by Comic Relief, which is an organization that strives to end child poverty in the United States and around the world. The group partnered with Walgreens, which shared in-store signage; online and televised advertising; and offered red clown noses for sale at checkouts to get the message out about the organization’s yearly fun-raising event. Last year the sale of over 12 million red noses at Walgreens stores raised $18 million. Customers participated not only through monetary donations but also by wearing their red noses in social media pics tagged with #rednoseday.

A smaller scale approach does not need to be as multi-layered and high-profile as Comic Relief’s campaign to be successful and have an impact. Durty Bull Brewery in Durham, North Carolina, partners with a different local charity each month and donates Thursday Happy Hour sales to the chosen organization. The brewery helps to spread publicity for the non-profits through advertising the weekly event on their website and social pages and makes it easy for their patrons to contribute to a good cause. The charity groups also publicize the goodwill efforts of the brewery to their network of supporters, bringing new customers to the business. Professional and community groups are also encouraged to host gatherings at the brewery on Thursday nights which is another way to increase exposure and donations.

Cause marketing is a relatively cheap way to spread positive publicity for each entity involved. If you’re a small business owner wondering how to get started, first consider any causes that you or your employees are passionate about and see if there are charities around you that align with those passions. If you are a non-profit, think about which businesses you interact with most in your community, personally or professionally, and which seem open to a partnership. No matter which side you are on there are benefits of cause marketing.

Social media can be a key part of getting the word out to current followers and their friends about events where their participation can help. This is a great help in showcasing your company and help you recognize the benefits of cause marketing. Once your event is organized or another type of participation is established and communicated you may begin to see new benefits for your business or community and gain insight to future marketing ideas for your organization through interaction with fans and followers.

What is Cause Marketing and How Can it Help My Small Business?

There is a widely successful marketing tool that you’ve surely come across in your shopping experiences without realizing it. It’s called Cause Marketing, or Cause-Related Marketing, and it is an example of how a symbiotic relationship between business and nonprofit can create ripple effects of good in the community. It occurs when a for-profit business partners with either a general cause or with a specific not-for-profit organization. The nonprofit and the cause are beneficiaries of funds and increased awareness. The for-profit business gains and keeps customers who value corporate social responsibility. It’s a win-win!

Cause Marketing Examples

On a large business scale, we’ve seen examples of this. McDonald’s and the Ronald McDonald House Charities have partnered for decades, a partnership that has helped thousands of children and has been a positive force for the McDonald’s brand. The Red Nose Day campaign affiliated with Walgreens has been hugely successful for Walgreens and for the foundation which aims to lift children out of poverty. Dove’s Real Beauty Campaign is a noteworthy example. The company is able to relate their giving campaign directly to their product, an extra bonus for the cause and for the brand because it is even more memorable and powerful.

Cause Marketing and the Small Business

It’s obvious that large corporations find success with cause marketing. The question is, is it just as profitable for community nonprofits and small businesses to jump on the bandwagon? The answer is a resounding “yes!” Small businesses have many local nonprofits and causes to choose from, and partnering with one can be an incredible way to get their brand out to the community. In a 2011 global study, it was revealed that a whopping 93% of consumers are more likely to remain loyal to a brand if it supports an outside cause. This is true for large corporations and small businesses alike.

Cause Marketing Best Practices

The great news is that all of the strategies that large corporations use can be directly applied to small businesses and local nonprofits.

The first step is to consider the causes that you personally care about, and that your staff can get behind.

Is there a cause that has directly affected your community, such as, recent devastating wildfires that would stir up a passion for supporting firefighters or burn victims? Or, is there a cause that is directly related to your brand and product/service?

This coffee company in Massachusetts has created a “Birds and Beans” campaign to educate consumers on the connection between coffee farms and the declining songbird population. The easier it can be tied back to what you are doing on a day to day basis, the easier it will be for customers and employees to engage in the cause.

Another great resource that both large and small businesses have is social media. Get your community involved on social media and make an even greater impact.

Lastly, do your best to partner closely with the nonprofit you’ve chosen so that both entities are participating in the campaign. It’s a great thing to donate money to a cause. It’s another thing, and a step forward for your business to have an active and vibrant cause-related marketing campaign that shows that both parties are excited about the partnership.

Conclusion

Cause marketing is an exciting and fresh way to connect to your community and get people involved in your business. Get involved today and watch your business or nonprofit reach new heights in your community.

3 Must-Watch Motivational TED Talks for Your Small Business or Nonprofit!

Having your own business comes with many perks, but there are also many challenges to navigate. An important element that’s often overlooked is motivation. Whether your business is already established or you’re ready to get started on one, motivational improvement will help you to be more productive and innovative. Good news! TED Talks are here to deliver new and creative ideas that you can incorporate into your business practices. Here are some great TED Talks from successful business owners themselves:

Speaker Melinda Gates, philanthropist and co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, talks about how such a large company like Coca-Cola impacts the entire world and what approach they take to succeed. This knowledge can directly be applied to small businesses and nonprofits. Her research on Coca-Cola’s methods of expanding their brand while helping people everywhere to make a living is particularly interesting and inspiring. She also focuses on health care accessibility and other issues developing nations are facing.

Speaker Simon Sinek, author and leadership expert, talks about some of the world’s most successful people and the one trait they all share that led them to be so successful. In our opinion, Mr. Sinek is also a motivational expert. He delves into how the mind works when it comes to marketing your product or idea, and how to use this to your advantage in growing your small business. If you enjoy his TED Talk, be sure to check out one of his books, Start With Why.

Speaker Navi Radjou—author, scholar, and innovation strategist—talks about the importance of ingenuity to solve everyday problems. He goes on to mention some amazing inventions that have been created with little resources available, specifically in developing nations. Topics that are covered include health care, basic human needs, and the differences between the economic classes and how that difference affects businesses.

So, whether you’re searching for just a spark of motivational inspiration to get you back on track in your business, or you’re in need of a bigger shift, these TED Talks will be sure to motivate and inspire you—and hopefully even help your small business flourish!

How to Help Employees Feel Appreciated.

Common wisdom dictates that “a person who feels appreciated will always do more than is expected.” All of us want to feel like our work matters, but it’s hard to feel that way if the people in our workplace don’t support us. People communicate in different ways, so it’s important to extend gratitude to your team in a variety of ways. It’s important to help them feel appreciated.

Here are some of our favorite ways to show appreciation for your team on a day-to-day basis:

Give thanks in specifics. A general “thank you” is a good start, but what exactly are you grateful for? “Thanks for being so thorough” or “thanks for making that follow up phone call” can go a lot farther. When people know that their hard work is being seen, they tend to want to go the extra mile.

Give rewards. Rewards are something that helps everyone feel appreciated. Aside from rewards like giving your team extra time off or bringing in breakfast, there are other free and low-cost rewards like thank you cards and certificates that team members can hang above their desks. Be creative!

Be positive. A positive environment makes people want to come to work. Staying positive—even when times are challenging—shows your team that you believe in them and that you’re grateful for all of the work they’re putting into the organization.

Encourage feedback. A team that communicates well does their work more efficiently and more thoroughly. When you create a workplace culture that encourages feedback, you show your teammates that their opinions are valuable. Ways to encourage feedback can range from setting aside time for feedback during team meetings and check-ins to having team members post feedback post-its on a whiteboard.

Have other ideas? We would love to hear about the things you do to show appreciation to people in your business life. Please feel free to share how you help your employees and coworkers feel appreciated.

Achieve Success by Following Tinker Bell’s Advice.

Positive thinking is the key to success. This belief makes many of us scoff or roll our eyes so far back in our heads that we almost pass out. Can something as simple as thinking happy thoughts really have such a profound effect? Can a person really change their life or trajectory of their career by simply thinking everything is sunshine and rainbows?

While it is easy to be skeptical, there is a reason why the power of positivity has been mentioned repeatedly by titans of industry, world-renowned artists, and every major religion – it works!

Our life is the creation of our mind. – Buddha

There has been a constant stream of research which has shown that happy people are more productive, efficient, and creative. According to a study by the University of Warwick in Britain, happy employees are 12% more productive. The 700-person study also found that happy employees use their time more effectively while still maintaining the quality and integrity of their work.

These kinds of studies reinforce the idea that successes in life are greatly determined by our mindset. Positive thinking is directly related to happiness. Being happy has been shown to improve performance. And nobody would argue that better work leads to less success.

Companies are fully aware of the correlation between happiness and productivity and are investing more resources to boost employee happiness. This is great news because company policies and culture certainly affect you. However, at the end of the day, you are the only one in control of your thoughts, feelings, and behavior. To reach your full potential, it is essential that you are relatively happy.

Happiness starts with positive thinking. Good fortune will come and go, but the power of positivity is always available.

How do you react when your project proposal is rejected or you get passed over for a promotion?

Do you pout, become despondent, and lose your drive?

Or do you learn from the experience, find ways to stay upbeat, and keep working hard because you are confident that there will be more opportunities for success down the road?

The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heaven of hell, a hell of heaven. – John Milton from Paradise Lost (discussed in The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt)

Positive thinking gives us more control in a chaotic world. We can see opportunities where others see only dead-ends. We see learning experiences and stepping stones where others see only failure. We have greater endurance and perseverance because we have faith that our hard work will pay off.

Positivity does not come naturally to everyone. Some of us must constantly remind ourselves that being alive is an amazing thing and not every failure or unfortunate situation is the end of the world. Keeping a book about positivity on your desk, putting a simple post-it note on your wall, or keeping a picture of loved ones nearby is usually enough to get the job done.

Take a moment each day to remind yourself why you are lucky. Find silver linings in difficult situations even when there seem to be none. Smile and try to find humor wherever possible. These simple things make life so much more enjoyable but also increase our chances of realizing our dreams.

At the very least consider this:

“A positive attitude may not solve your problems — but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.” – Anonymous

Houston, We Have a Growth Opportunity

What is the one thing in the world everyone has that no one wants? If you answered “problems”, most people would agree. Problems are, by definition, detrimental to progress and well-being.

That said, Tony Robbins is not most people. Many would say he knows how to define a growth opportunity. Daniel Marlin, a guest writer at Entrepreneur, quotes Robbins as having the following to say about dealing with problems;

“Every problem is a gift. Without them, we wouldn’t grow.” – Tony Robbins

The Meaning

Robbins’s mindset is two-pronged:

Problems are gifts, and,

They are catalysts for growth opportunity.

Out of the mouth of a famous motivational speaker, this mantra certainly has a “feel good” vibe to it. But can this style of thinking really transform a negative into a positive?

The short answer is yes, depending on the mindset of the individual handling the problem. For Robbins’s thesis to work, the problem solver must recognize the silver lining inherent in whatever situation they are going through.

The Application

If you are having trouble personally applying this mantra, perhaps due to overwhelming odds, no respite, or even the real possibility of utter loss or failure, you would not be alone. Problems are bad, or at least, that’s what we are taught.

But consider this; even in the direst of straights, bleak outlook and all, one logical rule will remain true; it could always be worse.

If there is nothing else to hold onto, hold on to that. Anything else is a plus.

See? We’re getting the hang of this.

It is your duty as the problem solver to negate your respective problem in the simple action of facing it. Take this stand. Find an angle. Use it.

Whether or not Robbins’ philosophy works is dependent on the individual utilizing it. Can you see the silver lining of your scenario? Is the growth opportunity recognizable? Do you possess the strength to grow through this trial?

Problems are universal, unavoidable, and quite rampant in the business world. It takes a strong leader, with a positive mindset to take a problem, and turn it into a gift that can be used to spearhead development and growth.

The Takeaway

The next time someone asks you what you’re thankful for, give them an answer that might surprise them. Show them how your “gifts” have helped you grow into the type of person who knows the value of a good problem.

We would love it if you shared some of the gifts that helped you grow!

Corporate Social Responsibility Is Here To Stay.

Are you familiar with this quote? It is more accurate today than ever. And, the concept is more important in today’s business climate than it has ever been.

We need government and business to work together for the benefit of everyone. It should no longer be just about typical “corporate social responsibility” where the “responsibility” bit is usually the realm of a small team buried in a basement office – now it should be about every single person in a business taking responsibility to make a difference in everything they do, at work and in their personal lives. Richard Branson

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as well as environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG), may have begun in a basement office but has now evolved into a global movement. Companies have generally done very well promoting their philanthropic endeavors or charitable contributions. But it is almost a requirement now for companies – small and large – to commit to authentic responsibility efforts. How can you leverage your company’s CSR and ESG for long-term success?

Attract Millennials

The truth is, having a CSR policy can impact more than just your brand image. The workforce is comprised of millennials who are looking to align their talents with organizations which make significant contributions to the world. You can leverage your CSR efforts in recruiting the millennials. Promote your company’s commitment to responsibility and lure the quality millennial talent.

Being transparent about your company’s structure and policies can inspire trust and confidence in your customer base and increase loyalty.

Increase ROI

Many do not often correlate social responsibility with direct ROI, but in many facets, it can have an impact. For many industries, implementing socially conscious processes can project long-term ROI. Attracting the right candidates to contribute to your company culture can reduce turnover and provide career-building platforms for the long run. Being transparent about your company’s structure and policies can inspire trust and confidence in your customer base and increase loyalty.

If your communities are healthy, so will be your future workforce.

Community Investment

Community contribution and participation show your organization’s willingness to invest in the markets in which you thrive. Companies are supporting their communities in multiple facets, including education, healthcare, and workforce development. If your communities are healthy, so will be your future workforce. All these commitments can directly affect your business’ ROI in the years to come.

Mr. Branson makes a great point that can be conversation prompting. The big picture here is learning that not only individuals look to make a positive impact, but companies also bear the responsibility of committing to a significant contribution to social responsibility. If we all, government, business and individuals alike, focused more on our social, economic, environment and charitable efforts, imagine how vibrant the world would be. How nice it is to be moving in that direction.

The Wrong Problem.

It’s an interesting fact that many people look at a problem and think “there’s no right answer.” There are, in general, three reasons for this response: the person doesn’t have all the available information, there really are no right answers, or the person is looking at the wrong problem.

A young man knows that he’s failing a class, and needs extra credit to achieve a passing grade. In order to get extra credit, he’ll need to talk to the teacher. The choice is obvious: ask the teacher and possibly be declined the extra credit he needs or he can say nothing and fail the class.

“We fail more often because we solve the wrong problem than because we get the wrong solution to the right problem.” – Russell L. Ackoff

The real problem with the above situation isn’t the student, his work, his grade, or his teacher. It’s the way he looks at the options. One is a potential failure and the other is certain failure. So of the things in this situation that can be changed by the student, what should be addressed first is the options he’s choosing between. Both of the options above are based on the student’s fear, rather than on passing the class – hence the look at the wrong problem.

The choice is obvious: take action to pursue extra credit, or do nothing and hope someone offers unsolicited help.

Nothing about what he can do has changed, but he has successfully faced his fear of bias, which makes the real problem more obvious.

It’s easier to accept failure when you can say “well, I wasn’t really trying.” To have tried and failed is frightening from the perspective of going into the attempt, but is it ever scary looking back on something you tried to do and didn’t succeed? In general – no.

When you next find yourself facing a problem that seems to have no “right” answer, ask yourself if the problem you’re looking at is the problem you’re actually trying to solve. Is the problem that the weed-eater is out of cord, or is the problem your unfamiliarity with how to load the cord onto the stupid machine? (We’ve all been there once or twice.) In a lot of cases, you’ll find that both problems are solvable, and solving them will be much easier once you know which problem you’re addressing first.

How To Inspire Others: The Easy Way.

In a chaotic world, seemingly overwhelmed by negativity, so many of us want to take action and work for a positive change. Problems may seem urgent at times, and we may not always know what to do to help.

There is a small, but very powerful way we can endeavor to inspire others as individuals on an interpersonal level. It’s something so basic that most people overlook its significance. But, it can be easily done on a day-to-day basis. And, it has the potential for a monumental change in your life and theirs.

The Simplest Way to Change the World

The simplest thing we can do for one another is to smile. That’s right, go ahead and grin. It’s contagious and will inspire others to do the same. At the risk of frivolity, we stand by the assertion: smiling people can make a big difference.

It doesn’t have to be an extended moment, just a genuine act of friendliness in a largely unfriendly world.

A smile expresses joy and acknowledges another person’s presence. It’s a basic human interaction, containing within it a potential for long-lasting bonds. It’s fast, free, and some even say it takes less effort than a frown. Imagine if everyone was doing it. Would conflict arise so readily then?

You Could Be That Person

Like a pebble dropped into a pond, you never really know how you’re affecting another human being. We are not privy to an awareness of our personal ripple effect, or how far our influence may travel. A smile could restore a stranger’s faith in humanity. It could talk someone down from the ledge. Or it could inspire that person to smile at another person in turn.

Have more ideas about how you can create everyday change and inspire others? Please feel free to share a comment with us.

No Problem Outside You is Superior to Your Power Within.

Life is a series of solving problems. Now, while this thought may seem tragic, it all depends on how we look at problems. Consider this from Bob Proctor: “There is no problem outside of you that is superior to the power within you.” Mr. Proctor is a great motivational speaker who has dedicated his life to teaching others how to believe in the greatness of their minds. He is also one of our favorite authors! In this quote, he speaks about the power we each have within. The following are four ways we can powerfully change the way we see problems as they arise. In each case, YOU have the ability to master your emotions and take more control of your life.

Reaction

When we take control of our reactions, we are able to remain level headed and clear minded during times of crisis and misfortune. Reacting out of haste and impulse can lead to more problems or destruction. Taking a pause to calm emotions and think clearly allows us to rise above any obstacle to see a solution.

Thoughts

Being mindful of the thoughts we entertain is a powerful way to steer your life’s ship. What we focus our mind on will gain momentum, which leads to manifestation. If you’re steady thinking about your problem, a solution will never be revealed. Your ability to shift focus can bring victorious rewards to any circumstance.

Decision

Simply making a decision can eliminate a majority of problems. Often times, problems occur due to a lack of decision. We don’t always have to know how something will work out, but by making a decision, we put a certain quality in the air that pulls the how to us, like a magnetic force.

Emotions

Our emotions are a powerful force. We can learn to control our emotions, rather than letting them control us, by seeing them as a tool to identify how we feel, not who we are. We get ourselves stuck when we define ourselves by our problems because we identify with the feelings they bring. Because our emotions are so powerful, use them, don’t become them.

No matter how well we master life, problems will always surface. There is no problem we will face that doesn’t come with a solution. By taking hold of the knowledge and ability we possess within, we are guaranteed to find a way out of any setback. Now, that’s power!

Talk Less, Listen More!

It is 7:30 AM on a Monday morning. You look around and see that everyone in your office has the Monday blues, or so you think. Bob from accounting has barely made eye contact with anyone, Sheila from HR looks ready to walk out of the front door. Everyone else seems to be barely alive, so it’s time to be motivational, right? “Pep up everyone, it’s not that bad!” you say, pouring a cup of coffee in the break room. For some reason, you are met with stony silence, even a few glares. What the heck is going on here?

“Solving problems means listening.” Richard Branson once said. It’s implied that you should talk less, listen more. Instead of trying to be motivational, it would be more appropriate in this situation to figure out what the problems are by asking questions. Listening is such a powerful tool, people who feel listened to are much more open to solving whatever issue is making them upset or unhappy.

You run into Sheila later that day and decide it’s time to find out why she is so unhappy. She tells you that she is feeling unsupported by her supervisor over an HR issue and simply cannot talk to them anymore about it. In fact, she has decided to start putting her resume out on the web so that she can find another company to work for. The problem here is that Sheila is feeling undervalued and dismissed which would make any employee upset! While you may or may not be able to solve her problem it will probably help her to verbalize her feelings. If she is open to suggestions, and here you really need to pay attention to her cues, you may even be able to help her brainstorm ways to solve her problem with this supervisor. In the process, you are sure to talk less, listen more.

The same thing could be done with Bob or any other employee at your company. Solving problems means you need to understand what the problem is. If you don’t listen to the problem then how can you even know what it is? So take into consideration that you need to listen in order to understand and solve whatever issues you may face. Talk less, listen more and be awed by the benefits you receive.

Simple Advice On Inspiring Others.

When we’re conducting business or in a professional setting, it’s generally a goal to portray the best version of ourselves and our business. We talk about our successes, why our solutions are the best and how important our model is to our clients. But what if we opened up more about challenges, adversity or failures we’ve experienced? Today we’re going to discuss how to inspire others in your own way.

You Have A Great Story, Tell It!

Think back on your career and make a list of the lessons you learned. Chances are, each one of those business or life lessons came to you in a moment of weakness or failure. These make for great stories. Maybe it was the time you lost a client or tripped in the lobby on your way to an important meeting. By exposing your moment of vulnerability with a story, you’re soliciting an authentic conversation. You’ll find people will naturally want to respond to your story with a similar experience. Now you’re talking! Watch as your connection with people can open a new line of dialogue. Now you’re inspiring others.

Take Off Your Mask

We are often forced to wear ‘masks’ in our professions. We have to overcome stereotypes and gain respect in an arena that may not welcome our expertise. This sometimes hardens us, and after years of wearing our mask, we forget to tap into what we really have to offer and who we are authentically. Don’t be afraid to connect with people as a person. Know that for every hardship you’re attempting to overcome; there is another professional trying to do the same. Talk about your successes and challenges in your profession. Watch as your connection with them grows and you begin inspiring others.

Ask, And You Will Be Asked

Anytime you find yourself with an opportunity to ask questions of another professional, do it. Having a student mentality will ensure that you will always be learning. It also presents the opportunity for others to ask questions of you. By asking questions, you’re setting the tone of the conversation that you’re willing to learn and share. Sharing leads to more authentic conversation and inspiration.

Inspiring others requires a deeper connection. Relationship building is the core requirement of any mentoring opportunity. Tell your story. Take off your mask. Be a student. Be inspirational!

The Corporate Social Responsibility Conversation

In today’s world, we find ourselves increasingly surrounded with and touched by social issues. The consumer community hungers more and more for organizations and companies that are willing and able to support (and even condemn) the issues we deal with on a daily basis. We find today’s world is increasingly about corporate social responsibility.

“We live in a customer-centric and highly connected world where consumers not only want to feel good about their purchase but also want to make use of social media to share the story behind the purchase.” – Andrew Miller, Creative Brand Strategist

At one time, perhaps “the story behind the purchase” was the tale of how you almost hit a deer on the way to the store, or how you broke your old Bluetooth headset by dropping it in your lemonade, so you needed to buy a new one. In today’s interconnected and media-driven society, the “story behind the purchase” may have a lot more to do with the business’s stance on civil rights, or whether or not a manufacturer tests their products on animals.

These preferences are more than just ideals. These are the consumers’ way of supporting things that really matter to them. It’s in a business’s best interest to carefully examine what corporate social responsibility issues they’re willing to take on. What issues are we as a small business, as an entrepreneur, as a non-profit, passionate about, and how does that plug into the society around us?

On the flip side of that coin, it’s up to us as consumers to seriously consider what issues are the most important to us. What are we willing to spend, or to give up, in the interest of those issues? Is it worth it to spend a little more for the same product, knowing that the seller is taking action and making a difference in ways that matter to you?

In a world of instant feedback and worldwide social media, businesses and consumers alike have a choice in how they will use their voices.

What’s the story behind your purchase? Are you satisfied with the role the company is playing in their corporate social responsibility around issues that are important to YOU?

4 Tips on Attracting Amazing People

Attracting the most amazing people in life lies in your ability to change. Work on becoming the person you want to attract. Learn to let go of negative influences. Put yourself out there. Communicate your goals. You can accomplish anything once you recognize that what you’re searching for starts with you.

Be the type of person you want to attract

In order to attract amazing people, strive first to be that amazing person. Simply having the desire to be around better people will not make it happen. Negative behavior attracts negative people. In order to attract more positive and successful people into your life, you must also be positive and goal-driven. Take a look inside yourself and change those things that you don’t want to attract in others.

Learn to let go

This may seem a bit harsh, but if you are trying to attract better people into your life, you’ll have to let go of those who are holding you back.

Change your environment

Start putting yourself out there! Surround yourself with people you admire or strive to be like. Introduce yourself to everyone, and let people know who you are and what you stand for. If you continue to hang around the same places you always have, how will you attract anything new?

Share your ideas

People want to be around those who have clear goals and who are moving towards them. Be open to communicating your dreams. It will have people flocking to you. Additionally, don’t be afraid to share your vulnerable side. It is easier for others to relate to you if they know that you have goals even as you work to overcome obstacles. It helps people identify with you, and know they’re not alone.

Ultimately, attracting amazing people begins with you. If you can master becoming the kind of person you wish to attract, the right people will naturally come to you.

]]>4 Ways to Make A Difference By Being A Mentorhttps://mobileappsforcharity.com/4-ways-to-make-a-difference-by-being-a-mentor/
Mon, 09 Jul 2018 12:18:11 +0000https://mobileappsforcharity.com/?p=5399

4 Ways to Make A Difference By Being A Mentor.

For some people, work can be a source of stress and anxiety. Meeting the job requirements, dealing with fellow coworkers and understanding the work culture can be tasking. For such people, having someone to help them deal with these issues can make a world of difference. You can choose to be such a person by offering to be their mentor at work or in life.

With this choice, you make the work life of your mentee so much easier in several ways. Some of these include:

Work culture: One of the trickiest aspects of any job is understanding and navigating the work culture. You have the opportunity of helping your mentee grasp the dos and don’ts of the organization.

Networking: Development of a solid network is essential to success within any organization. You become a networking contact and are able to help your mentee further expand and sustain his or her network.

Feedback: As a mentor, you are a trusted voice for your mentee. As such, you are able to provide positive feedback to enable your mentee to excel. You are also a sounding board to address any questions or concerns from your mentee.

Growth: You find ways to improve the skill set of your mentee by providing learning opportunities and exposure to fresh ideas and thought processes

There is a great benefit for you too! Being a mentor is an opportunity for you to give back to the company. Also, there is a satisfaction that comes from knowing that you have made a positive impact in the life of an individual; this impact will never be forgotten and always be appreciated. Furthermore, there is the possibility of developing a real friendship out of the mentorship.

Our suggestions don’t require any special set of skills or knowledge. All that is required is a heart that is willing to help and make a positive impact. Anybody can be a mentor! You can certainly be one too. Next time you are at work, make a difference in someone’s life by offering to be his or her mentor

Making Success out of Failure.

There is not a more difficult situation in your leadership and personal development journey than the moment you must face a personal mistake that interrupted your climb to the top. Failure becomes a defining moment. Do you walk away from the issue, persevere, or look for a different path that may eventually lead you to the same goal? A genuine definition of “making success” is intimately interwoven with our response to these situations.

A Fail Doesn’t Always Mean FAILURE.

Successful people universally look back upon their perceived failures as beneficial events. The learning process can be treacherous, painful, and seemingly impossible at times, but sticking to your goals through that process becomes the marker of the ultimately successful. People who succeed in business, personal relationships, and other areas of life are those who take the lessons of their failures and turn them into a positive. Can you really call it a failure if you have genuinely learned something from the experience? Or is it really just another step on the path that leads to your desired goal?

Rock bottom makes for a pretty solid foundation, but you can’t build much down there.

Most businesses will struggle and falter at some point. Most relationships will decay, dissolve, or break apart. It is impossible to go through life without experiencing a fall, a disappointment, or an unexpected result. And when you hit the proverbial bottom of the barrel there are only two choices — to stay at the bottom or to climb out again.

It is often tempting, especially in the initial hours and days, to just wallow at the bottom, to want to give up and just stay there. Climbing is hard, and the fall was painful. But making success doesn’t come from the bottom. You have to find the will and courage to begin that climb again. Successful people are the climbers that look ahead and remember what caused their fall in the first place. If you don’t learn, you will just end up on the bottom again.

Forgive Yourself, but Don’t Forget!

Always remember how it felt, but don’t allow yourself to wallow in self-recrimination —it isn’t productive. Failure never feels good, but that doesn’t mean it can’t do you good. Forgive yourself, and others, who may have brought you down, but always keep in mind how it happened. If one of your business partners was unable to fulfill their function, perhaps it is time to find a new partner or find a new responsibility for the existing partner that is better aligned to their talents and abilities. If you were so overwhelmed that you dropped the ball, perhaps learning to delegate and prioritize more efficiently is the key.

Really “making success” is defined by our reactions to failure, both our own and the perceived failures of others. Those who stand up, brush themselves off, and keep climbing while maintaining the lessons of their past mistakes firmly in mind, will eventually become successful leaders in their businesses and personal lives.

Five Simple Ways You Can Change Someone’s Life

We each have a responsibility. We are constantly surrounded by other people, and we need to do what we can to make their lives better – in effect, change someone’s life. While this sounds very high and fancy, it can honestly be quite down-to-earth and even easy. These are five simple things that you can do to impact the people in your workplace.

1. Be diligent. Did you know that you can change someone’s life without saying anything? As the old saying goes, actions speak louder than words. So set a good example, no matter who is watching you. You never know who will notice and try to emulate you.

2. Be positive. Many people will be more grateful than you realize for a kind word or a smile here and there. Praise people for their successes. If there is a problem, try to find a solution instead of simply yelling at them for doing something wrong. This can turn someone’s life completely around.

3. Be a mentor. Being a mentor doesn’t mean you have to go out for coffee with someone on a weekly basis and have hour-long chats (although that’s not a bad idea). You can mentor others in the workplace in very simple ways. Ask your employees or less-experienced coworkers if they have any questions. Offer advice without being patronizing. Take extra time to show them how to do something. Mentors can change someone’s life.

4. Be personal. It’s okay to use work time to chat sometimes, especially if someone really needs a friend. Don’t go too personal at first. Ask about a pet. Ask how someone’s weekend was. You may be the first person to take an interest in your coworker, so don’t pass up the opportunity to reach out!

5. Be open. This is absolutely crucial. While you may know a whole lot more than someone else, you make mistakes and have your bad days, too. If you try to hide this fact, you will come across as proud. Instead, be vulnerable. Let others see you work through your faults in a mature way. This can make a huge difference in another person’s life.

By putting into practice these five simple tips, you can impact the people around you in unbelievable ways! This is something you want to start right away! The sooner you begin, the sooner you can change someone’s life.

How Positive Thoughts Promote Positive Results

Having a positive attitude is imperative in order to be successful in business, and in life. If you choose to have a positive attitude, you are able to accomplish anything. When you surround yourself with negative people, you too will become negative and less productive. Focusing on the positive in all situations is what drives you to be successful. It’s easy to get bogged down with the negative in daily life, but it takes strength to rise above and focus on finding solutions to your problems. How does having a positive attitude impact your life? Let’s take a look at how positive thoughts can promote positive results.

Positivity produces energy. We are all acquainted with someone who sucks the life out of their peers with their negative outlook. It seems they have several problems and usually appear drained and tired. When you’re smiling and positive, endorphins are released which create more energy, and having more energy increases productivity. Positive thoughts and feeling positive in general increases brain stimulation, enhances your problem-solving abilities, and reduces stress.

You begin to expect success and not failure. When your thoughts drift to the negative side, you will naturally expect failure. When a negative thought forces its way into your head, it is important to change it by focusing on the positive of the situation. This will train your brain to go straight to the positive and avoid unnecessary anxiety and stress. Always be mindful to focus on how to fix the problem, rather than on the problem itself.

You tend to think more constructively and creatively. Having a negative mindset creates a closed mind. When you focus only on the positive, your mind will open and allow you to think more constructively and creatively. Positive thoughts open you to more possibilities, making it easier for you to solve problems and overcome obstacles.

It isn’t likely that you’ll meet a negative person who has become successful. Those who are successful usually have a positive outlook, find solutions to their problems, and turn obstacles into opportunities. Remember to focus your attention on what you can do rather than what you can’t do, practice positive affirmations, and always believe you will succeed. There is no room for negativity on your path to success! Positive thoughts push all negativity to the side.

****************************

Mobile Apps for Charity (MAFC) helps salespeople and small businesses generate inbound leads using a variety of advanced strategies. We help select nonprofits and charities with their fundraising and create native mobile applications for them. Our unique integration of these initiatives helps increase our client’s community visibility, goodwill, and positive media exposure.

The influence of social media and your brand

In the summer of 2014, the Internet lit up with videos and posts of friends and family pouring buckets of ice water on their heads. These now soaked participants had been called out to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge – an online social campaign to raise awareness for Lou Gehrig’s Disease, commonly known as ALS.

The social media campaign for this challenge forced people to become aware of ALS. If they didn’t know about the disease before, they became informed through the viral postings.

Since then, social campaigns have increasingly materialized throughout the country.

Use #SocialMedia campaigns to raise awareness of your brand. #SalesAndMarketingClick To Tweet

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge was unique in the way it used social media to achieve success and social gain. It started a trend of campaigns that used social media to advocate for a cause they believed in. Brands realized through this challenge, that they could turn to social media to spread the word about their services or beliefs.

The success of these challenges is proof that using social media and your brand can create power in the digital world.

Mobile Apps for Charity (MAFC) helps salespeople and small businesses generate inbound leads using LinkedIn. We help select nonprofits and charities with their fundraising and create native mobile applications for them. Our unique integration of these initiatives helps increase our client’s community visibility, goodwill and positive media exposure.

We provide our nonprofit mobile apps at no cost to the organization. Small businesses become marketing partners of the apps. Marketing partners receive LinkedIn Lead Generation and other marketing (mobile, social and print). They also receive access to exclusive marketing tools. We help them generate leads by using a socially responsible marketing strategy. The salespeople and small businesses who are our marketing partners earn a generation of new clients.